Note: This story was updated at 2:49 p.m.
CLINTON—After hours of discussion and five meetings, the Anderson County Commission has agreed to place four black granite signs inscribed with the national motto “In God We Trust” in gold letters above each of the four doors at the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton.
The signs would be paid for by donations. Commission agreed to accept contributions and donations in the Anderson County Budget Director’s Office.
It’s the third time the signs have been considered by the commission since February. They’ve also been considered twice by the Anderson County Operations Committee. Much of the debate among commissioners and residents has focused on the whether the signs should be posted at all—some opponents would like to keep a strict separation between church and state—and whether other mottos such as “E pluribus unum“ and “Liberty and Justice for All” should also be included.
One of the main issues as the signs bounced back and forth between the full commission and the Operations Committee was the design. Commissioners sought a more dignified design than the black metal signs that were initially proposed.
But there were also proposals, including from commissioners Myron Iwanski and Jerry Creasey, to allow other mottos. However, those recommendations were repeatedly rejected. One motion to place four “clearly secular” slogans over the courthouse doors failed in a 3-5 vote in the Operations Committee meeting last week.
On Monday, Iwanski said he thought the “In God We Trust” proposal had been rushed, and it should have gone to the Operations Committee before it was considered, and approved, by the full commission in a 12-4 vote in February. That could have reduced confusion, the number of meetings involved, and the county’s legal liability, Iwanski said.
Still, the vote on Monday was closer than it has been in previous meetings. Iwanski and another Oak Ridge commissioner who had previously voted against the signs, Operations Committee Chair Robin Biloski, said they were ready to move on and voted in favor.
“This has turned into a very emotional issue for Anderson County,” Biloski said.
There were 14 “yes” notes, zero “no” votes, and two abstentions for the granite signs during Monday’s daytime County Commission meeting. The abstentions came from Creasey and fellow Oak Ridge commissioner Whitey Hitchcock. Both have previously voted against the sign proposal, recommending that other mottos be included as well.
Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank said there is room on the courthouse and in its hallways for other slogans.
At the request of Judge Ron Murch, the commission also agreed to install the signs at the Anderson County General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge, subject to the approval of the building’s landlord. Hitchcock also abstained from that vote.
Anderson County Law Director Jay Yeager has said he thinks displaying the national motto on a county government building will be constitutional as long as it doesn’t violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and commissioners follow proper procedures and safeguards. Among other things, the signs have to be displayed for a secular purpose, can’t advance or inhibit religion, and can’t convey—to a reasonable viewer—a government endorsement of religion, said Yeager, who has issued a confidential legal opinion to commissioners.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
Sam Hopwood says
Oh my…. After accusing the pro sign commissioners of being devisive, Iwanski and Biloski leap on the bandwagon and join in it’s approval. Why am I not surprised?? Politics at it’s finest!!
Curt Kelsey says
Exactly Sam . Myron’s advisors probably woke him out of the coma he was in. 1st he was against it ,then he was for it. You are absolutely right ,he has become the ultimate politician.
Andrew Howe says
You know, or perhaps you don’t, but nearly all of our founding fathers were deists, not your average bible belt christians.
While they may have trusted in their concept of “God”, they absolutely did NOT trust their govt to act on behalf of said “God”.
Place all the signs you want on a court house, it still won’t make the place holy. The only really holy thing about our judicial system is the “Holy crap, you call that justice?!!” feeling you get about it.
Y’all are funny for making such a who-ha about such a silly thing, especially when there are homeless and starving and dis-enfranchised around asking for time and aid from religious groups.
Forget about changing the building. Change the system adhered to inside the building.
Denny Phillips says
I agree. I’m not sure why the four dissenting commissioners made such a “who-ha” about such a simple patriotic gesture.
Curt Kelsey says
The phrase “Founding Fathers” is a proper noun. It refers to a specific group of men, the 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention. There were other important players not in attendance, like Jefferson, whose thinking deeply influenced the shaping of our nation. These 55 Founding Fathers, though, made up the core.
The denominational affiliations of these men were a matter of public record. Among the delegates were 28 Episcopalians, 8 Presbyterians, 7 Congregationalists, 2 Lutherans, 2 Dutch Reformed, 2 Methodists, 2 Roman Catholics, 1 unknown, and only 3 deists–Williamson, Wilson, and Franklin
Myra Mansfield says
It was my privilege to give the Invocation for this County Commission meeting. Afterward I thanked both Iwanski and Biloski for changing their vote. My reason? I am one of their constituents and I am happy to see the signs go up at the courthouse. In addition, of my neighbors and friends who I have spoken with about this issue who are also voting constituents of those commissioners 100% stand in favor of the signage. These are people from Amanda Drive, Clarion Lane, Hendrix Drive, Manhattan Avenue, Marquette Road, etc. Maybe they changed their votes to represent the majority they discovered in their district. That IS their responsibility after all – to represent their constituents.
Just like the sleeping giant was awakened in 1941 and changed the world, the nay-sayers will eventually see the 21st century sleeping giant awakened too. And by the way, it is we who stand for this issue so strongly who are also out there feeding the hungry, comforting the brokenhearted, and trying to bring hope for a better life to those in the jails, etc….
Mark Caldwell says
Look at me everyone!
I’m a Christian. Christians are better than everybody else because we believe correctly and all others do not.
Look at me everyone!
Curt Kelsey says
Mark ,you are being bigoted toward Christians and Veterans ,your disrespect for us is very much NOT appreciated.
Curt Kelsey says
Martin Luther King was a Christian . I have heard that Christopher Hitchens (A well known Atheist ,made a statement about Mother Theresa saying “She was one of the most dangerous people to ever live” I don’t believe for a minute that Christians are nearly as guilty of the charges that hateful people say about them .Christopher Hitchens has passed on in the last year and I can only hope before he passed from this life to the next ,although he wasn’t an American I hope ,He chose to ” Trust in God” I don’t think there is any evidence that Martin Luther King or Mother Theresa ever displayed that they “Are better than everyone else”
Jason Allison says
I’m not a very religious person to say the least but I don’t see why this is such a big issue.
John Huotari says
A few people have asked about the decisions by Myron Iwanski and Robin Biloski to change their votes on the “In God We Trust” signs.
What the two commissioners said publicly at the last commission meeting was that they wanted to have unity (Myron) and wanted to work together and get back to business (Robin).
Denny Phillips says
I believe he also made some comment about the commissioners being “all Christians here” too.
Not sure what that had to do with anything.